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This is a perfect example of how ridiculous we have become … In case you were not aware, the US has a major problem concerning the school cafeterias where kids are fed shitty, high-fat food, processed, fried foods, and it is a major contributing factor to child and adolescent obesity. The kids/students get to choose whatever they want, which typically includes french fries and other nasty processed foods on a daily basis. This is a well documented issue across the US, even going as far as spurring a show on national television to help try and change things from Jamie Oliver (famously known for improving the health of the entire UK’s school menu):

So the US govt says “lets spend millions of dollars on psychologists to figure out how to improve this”. Things like pretty display baskets, hiding chocolate milk behind regular milk, and “cash-only” deserts… But all of the options are still available to the student, they just have to look/work harder for them or possibly be enticed by nicer display options on the healthy items. So basically, after spending millions and calling in all sorts of know-it-all self-proclaimed experts (psychologists) we are either trying to trick the students or we are relying on their laziness or lack of cash to make them default back to something that is healthier. that is their solution, ridiculous

Here is my solution: Simply remove the shitty food options from their daily lunch choices altogether. Give them only options which are all decent/healthy choices. Remember, healthy does not have to mean boring or bland. They can either choose the good food that the school is supplying or if they don’t like it, they can pack their own. That way the fatty and unhealthy foods come from the children’s parents poor choices, not from the govt. or state funded school.

Spend millions on psychologists or just remove the unhealthy options, costing nothing. One option gambles millions on the most remote possibility of any dietary change occurring at all. The other gambles nothing, costs nothing, and guarantees the kids cannot choose poorly.

Money & shrinks or common sense ? Simple !

Unordinary: Anyone remember “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Pies” ? In case you don’t, they were a green pie shell filled with vanilla pudding. They also came with a cool character trading card. I can’t tell you how many of those I had at our school cafeteria… I bet if it was not available, I would not have eaten any of them. Hrm …

Comments (1)

David E. Martin said on 14-10-2010

Our government’s answer to every situation is to throw money at it – not their money, our money. How about mandatory classes on nutrition? Not just the same old boring dissertation on calories, protein, carbohydrates and fats. Give them some information that they can use every day to make good, informed lifestyle decisions, in a way that they can identify with. Tell them that eating poorly is like putting bad gas in a car. It just won’t run as well, or maybe not at all. Give them some incentive to choose wisely. Eating well will help make them smarter, they will think more clearly, have more energy – thus, schoolwork gets easier. Eating well will help improve their complexion. Eating well will help them be stronger, faster, jump higher, recuperate faster for football, soccer, cheerleading, etc. Teach them about proper food combinations, and when to eat what. Did you know dairy products and citrus should not be eaten at the same meal because they are digested differently? The difference is so dramatic that they should be eaten at opposite ends of the day to put less stress on the body. Most people have never been taught anything like this. I’m with you, Nate. Less government, more common sense. Keep up the good work.